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The Connecticut Chapter strives to provide knowledge and assistance to help people with MS and their families maintain the highest possible quality of life. These goals are achieved through vital national and local programs.

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Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon

May 2, 2013

CUTLINE: Andrea “Andy” Porrino (seated), of Westport, poses with friends Harriet Sheldon, Westport; Cindy Saul, Weston; Michele Carenman, Westport; Liz Foster, Westport; and Alice Beck, Easton. The women attended the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, held Thursday, May 3, at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Porrino, who in 1992 was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, is a longtime supporter of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, and a member of the Women Against MS steering committee. Her husband, Peter, is a member of the chapter’s board of trustees. More than 190 guests attended the luncheon, which included boutique shopping. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which raised approximately $65,000, was hosted by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, of Greenwich. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visitwww.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE: Jennifer Enscoe, Norwalk, browses the designer clothes racks featured at the boutique shopping experience held at the start of the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, which took place Thursday, May 3, at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Enscoe is affiliated with Wilton Re, a life reinsurance company located in Wilton. More than 190 guests attended the luncheon in support of the 6,000 Connecticut residents battling MS. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which raised approximately $65,000, was hosted by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, of Greenwich. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visitwww.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE: Margaret “Margie” Warwick, Greenwich, Lisa Gerrol, West Hartford, and Kendra Farn, Greenwich, pose at the start of the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, which took place Thursday, May 3, at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Warwick is a longtime supporter of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, serving on the Women Against MS steering committee for more than 20 years. Gerrol is president and CEO of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. Farn, who in the 1990s first got involved in the luncheons through her mother, served as this year’s mistress of ceremonies. She is an award winning television journalist who is formerly a CBS News correspondent. More than 190 guests attended the luncheon in support of the 6,000 Connecticut residents battling MS. The 2013 WAMS luncheon raised approximately $65,000. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visitwww.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE: Brigitte Heynen, Old Greenwich, admires two designer garments she found while shopping a small clothing boutique participating at the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, held May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Heynen attended the benefit luncheon as a guest of Greenwich resident Liliane Haub, a longtime supporter of the National MS Society. A native of Germany, Heynen taught German to Haub’s children. More than 190 guests attended the luncheon, which included boutique shopping. Fifteen percent of boutique shopping sales benefitted the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which raised approximately $65,000, was hosted by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, ofGreenwich. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE: Lisa Gerrol (right) poses with Greg and Alison Jacobson while at the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, held May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Gerrol, a resident of West Hartford, is president and CEO of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. The Jacobsons, who live in Wilton, operate Accessible Home Living, a company creating accessible homes and communities for the disabled and elderly. Alison, founder, launched the company after Greg’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, in 2010 and her father’s later diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible, progressive brain disease destroying memory and thinking skills. Faced with the many challenges revolving around disability and accessibility, the couple established the company to ensure that people of all abilities and ages live as independently as possible within their communities. Accessible Home Living centers on remodeling, the installations of stair lifts and ramps and accessible modular home additions. Former pro golfer, Greg Jacobson , principal and chief marketing officer with Accessible Home Living, will speak on living with progressive MS at the 2013 Golf MS event, which will be held Monday, May 13, at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. More than 190 guests attended the benefit luncheon, which included boutique shopping. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which raised approximately $65,000, was hosted by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, of Greenwich. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco. For more information on Accessible Home Living, visit www.accessiblehomeliving.com. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE DSC0173: Kirstin Galef, Greenwich, raises her hand, landing her the winning bid for a full course dinner for six at the gathering table of Michael and Ronda Giangrecco, of Sonoma, Calif. The spirited bidding took place at the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, held May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. Galef attended the benefit luncheon as a guest ofGreenwich resident Liliane Haub, a longtime supporter of the National MS Society. Galef won the gathering table dinner with a bid of $2,500, all of which will benefit the fight against MS. Keynote speaker and foodie Ronda Giangrecco and her husband, Michael, donated the dinner and wine tour. A native of Wethersfield, Michael Giangrecco’s mother passed away from complications resulting from MS when he was just 16 years old. Thirty-five years later, in 2008, Ronda and Michael learned that Ronda, then 53, would also battle multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, for the rest of her life. Told, that she may not walk for much longer, Ronda asked herself, “Then where should I walk now?” She ended up walking straight to her favorite room, her kitchen, where she resolved to prepare dinner for eight every Sunday for the next year, or 52 weeks. Every Sunday dinner was served at a gathering table in the couple’s home. Although her MS flared up over that year, Ronda never missed preparing a Sunday dinner. At the end of the year, she went on to publish a book, “The Gathering Table, Defying MS With a Year of Pasta, Wine and Friends.” Galaf and six friends will join the Giangreccos in Sonoma for a Sunday dinner prepared by Ronda, who has gone to Italy twice to attend cooking school. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which attracted 190 guests, raised approximately $65,000. The luncheon was hosted for the first time by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, of Greenwich. For more information on Ronda Giangrecco and her book, “The Gathering Table,” visit www.thegatheringtable.net. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

CUTLINE: Cheryl Jones, Fairfield; Amy Lynn, Monroe; and Pam Lind,New Canaan; pose with Lisa Gerrol, president of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter; and Ronda Giangrecco, of Sonoma, Calif. Jones, Lynn and Lind were honored at the 2013 Fairfield County Women Against MS Luncheon, held May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich. The women were presented with the Georgina B. Davids award, an award presented annually to a person or group of people making a difference in the lives of others battling multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease. The three women, all of whom work for the Town of New Canaan, have hosted an annual fundraiser, Cocktails and Croonin’ For a Cause, which has raised more than $92,000 since its start in 2009. The funds raised benefit the women’s Walk MS fundraising team, Mothers Against MS, and the chapter’s annual Walk MS fundraiser. Lind was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, in 2005. Jones also battles multiple sclerosis. Lynn and her husband, Jack, have been longtime supporters, raising funds and championing the cause in honor of their friends and colleagues living with MS. Approximately 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Lind and Jones, live with multiple sclerosis. More than 190 guests attended the 2013 Women Against MS Luncheon, which included boutique shopping. The 2013 WAMS luncheon, which raised approximately $65,000, was hosted by award winning television journalist Kendra Farn, of Greenwich. The keynote speaker was author Ronda Giangrecco, who shared with guests her quest to live life as fully as possible in the face of MS. For more information about multiple sclerosis, its effects and the many ways the National MS Society assists people living with MS, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

About the Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society

The Connecticut Chapter strives to provide knowledge and assistance to help people with MS and their families maintain the highest possible quality of life. These goals are achieved through vital national and local programs.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide.